Who is Ralph Krueger and why isn't he coaching in NHL?
TORONTO – Regardless of how Team Europe fares against the Canadians in the World Cup of Hockey Final, coach Ralph Krueger will be viewed as the one who got away.
Krueger will return to his job as chairman of the Southampton Football Club in the English Premier League next week while we wonder why he isn’t coaching or managing an NHL team.
“I can’t say enough good things about him,” said European defenseman Christian Ehrhoff. “He is focused on keeping everyone’s confidence up and everybody’s head right, believing in yourself and the group. We’ve come together as a team.”
The Europeans, trailing 1-0 heading into Thursday’s Game 2 (8 p.m. ET, ESPN 2) of best-of-three final, are the surprise of the tournament.
Canada holds off Team Europe in Game 1 of World Cup of Hockey final
This is a best-on-best tournament, and Krueger has stood out because of his approach, tactics, message and presence. Krueger is coaching a team with players from eight countries. Most have never played together, and somehow Krueger has them playing well-choreographed hockey.
“I think he has shown what a smart hockey brain he is,” said European center Frans Nielsen.
Krueger, a Canadian son of German immigrants, is both charming and forceful, easy-going and complex. If you ask him about the weather, you might end up receiving a meteorology lesson.
Asked about his friendship with Canada coach Mike Babcock, Krueger said: “We’re both fanatic water skiers. We compare our best water ski results on a regular-basis, and that’s all that we’ve talked about when we run into each other here – how we did on our last pass.”
Krueger has authored, in German, a top-selling book called Team Life– Beyond Setbacks to Success. It put him on high demand on the speakers circuit.
When he coached the Swiss national team, it was known for pulling off upsets against larger countries. He beat Canada at the 2006 Olympics.
No past or future: Team Europe embraces World Cup stage
On Wednesday, he was asked to give an analysis about whether the World Cup has been a success. His answer lasted two minutes, 49 seconds.
“Memories we take out of this, and the opportunity for the team I’ve been allowed to coach, are irreplaceable,” Krueger said. “The excitement of all of these nations being able to compete and be in a final is special.”
The next question is why isn't he coaching in the NHL? In 2012-13, Krueger led the Edmonton Oilers to third place, their best finish in 11 years, and was then fired.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if someone called him,” Nielsen said. “I think they should. He showed how smart he is. He sees what kind of players and potential he has on his team and he builds his system around that. I’m sure he would play a little differently if he was coaching Canada.”
The only hitch in the plan to get Krueger, 57, back in hockey is that he may want to stay in soccer.
Asked about a returning to first love, Krueger said: “You can never say never, but at the moment I'm very proud to be back in hockey at this level and to be competing. We are just having so much fun in our room, the coaches, the players, the whole group is enjoying it, and I am, too. But my real life is my commitment is to Southampton Football Club at the moment.”
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